Which Ram to buy (overclocking XP2100)

[Mattlock]

Can someone tell me which ram I should buy for overclocking my new system (Epox 8rda, XP2100 rev B)

I was thinking Corsair PC3200 2x256.

1) Any other ideas/brands?

(still confused about the specs on ram "timings" etc)

2) who is the best vendor to use for RAM?

thanks
Mattlock

 

[KidChaos]

Originally posted by: Mattlock
I was thinking Corsair PC3200 2x256.

Perfect combo!

Buy from newegg.com.

 

[tbates757]

Sure, go with Corsair that's probably the safest buy. I also second "KidChaos" with NewEgg.com, which is where I/everyone else buys pretty much everything from

 

[Mattlock]

thanks.

Now I am reading varied opinions on whether I should go with 1 stick of 512 or 2x256.

which is best for overclocking?

Mattlock

 

[tbates757]

512MB single stick is best for overclocking, but then you will lose the Dual Channel DDR benefit from your nForce2 motherboard.

 

[MrC4]

but then you will lose the Dual Channel DDR benefit from your nForce2 motherboard

I hear that you do not get any additional benefits from Dual Channel DDR unless you are using a Nforce2 board with built in video. Anyone else agree or disagree?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: MrC4

but then you will lose the Dual Channel DDR benefit from your nForce2 motherboard

I hear that you do not get any additional benefits from Dual Channel DDR unless you are using a Nforce2 board with built in video. Anyone else agree or disagree?

You only get about a 5-9% peformance increase depending on which apps you're running. But if the difference is 210mhz vs. 214mhz max SPD when you're only going to be running at 200mhz FSB, it doesn't matter.

 

[KingofFah]

Look around for a bit on DCDDR. It yields small results in some areas, and decent ones in others (without the IGP).

You could also consider OCZ EL 3500.
Corsair XMS 3500
OCZ EL 3500
HEXUS review
I think that if you buy some of that RAM you will at least tie corsair, but some people (like whoever did the review at ocprices) get some monstrous overclocks out of that ram without increasing the volts much (they had it 500 with a 2.7 vdimm at "FASTEST" timings on the Abit-IT7). Someone with the IT7 will have to tell me what those FASTEST is on that board. HEXUS did their review on the IT7, so you do not know what to think.
Oh well, take this for what it is worth.

 

[rommelrommel]

Personally I would put a big big advisory against OCZ ram. It's very spotty when it comes to doing it's rated specs, the company has a horrible reputation about spiking reviews, being very difficult to RMA with, and not meeting advertised specs. Corsair on the other hand costs a bit more, but almost always meets specs, and often exceeds them, is better to RMA through, and isn't known for the blatent dishonesty that OCZ had been involved in in the past. Really, the stories of OCZ cleaning things up may be true, but I still would suggest going Corsair. The few extra bucks are worth it.

 

[tbates757]

corsair is more "reliable" as a company I guess but doesnt hit the insane speeds ocz can, so if you are a gambling man go ocz, i have a pc2700 ocz stick and it overclocks really well, my brother got a stick of pc3500 EL and it runs great, I haven't heard anyone complain about their new products so I dont see the reason to bash ocz. Sure they got a bad rep for their pc2400 ram but how long does it take to redeem themselves to some of you?

edit: thats a really nice 1700+ o/c, especially for air rommelrommel, what hs/f do you have?

 

[Lyran]

uh, not to bash OCZ too much, since I have never used it myself, but their chief reseller, who was thought to be a "honest community member", John Apps at ramstore.ca, was caught trying to bribe reviews to get them to lie otutright about their results. that is unacceptable, and makes me think that many of the reviews, even when coming from an "independent third party reseller" can be cherry-picked and bribed. I'm not sure if OCZ is responsible for the bribing really, but I would be wary of any extraordinary results you see from their RAM.

-Lyran

 

[CraigRT]

personally.... anything fast
I am getting Kingston Hyper-X PC3500
I can't honestly see even hitting hte limits of this memory at 434 MHz CAS2 so just get whatever is plenty fast... that's what I would do... but that's just me

 

[KingofFah]

They do have a bad rep, which I think they are trying to get rid of with better products now. I completely agree that they had some really trashy stuff and bad service, but I think that they are trying to change their ways. Only my opinion.